CONFIDENTIAL
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Annexure 'H'
In Beijing
The Commissioner pointed out that the arrest of adult illegal immigrants continued to increase. Between October 1986 and March 1987, Hong Kong recorded its highest number of IIs arrested since 1980. He said in 1986, a total of 16,832 adult IIS were arrested which was a 33% increase over 1985. Between January and March this year, 4,017 arrests were recorded which was an increase of 75% over the same period in the previous year.
He added that 3,707 evaders were apprehended in 1986 with 903 arrests between January and March 1987.
2.
3.
The Chinese side was told that a change of policy on minor illegal immigrants had been introduced by the Hong Kong Government. On 28.4.87, a one day amnesty was given to those juvenile IIs staying with their parents in Hong Kong to surrender to the Hong Kong Immigration. Any children found illegally staying in the territory after that day were to be repatriated to the mainland.
4.
The Chinese side was then given a list of snakeheads who had been arrested in Hong Kong. The list also contained the particulars of detained Chinese vessels which had been seized for this crime.
5.
Mr Liu Wen pledged to strengthen their efforts in curbing the influx. He stated that the sources of the problem were reportedly in Fujien and Guangdong. The Minister of Public S-curity had taken interest in this matter and had urged the PSB of the 2 places to step up actions.
In Guangzhou
6.
The Chinese side undertook to tighten up preventive measures on their side of the border and forward Hong Kong with any information regarding this activity.
CONFIDENTIAL